On Murray Stenson and how he created a community

The bartender/cocktail community in San Francisco has been a very big part of my life over the last 12 years. I want to think that I was lucky in moving here at the right time to be a part of its flourishing, but I am very sure it was thriving long before my time. However, it is undeniable that it has never — for better or for worse — had the attention that it does now. The negatives of this attention are easy to point out; just take a look at the comments that follow each and every cocktail-related post on SFGate. I am the first to admit that many of my colleagues need to be reminded that their drink and their suspenders are not nearly as important as just being a generous, happy host — and I certainly am not screaming for another avocado-infused anything.

However, there are some major and significant benefits to the media attention focused on our craft. The biggest is that it has led to bartenders growing into a global community that is riddled with ties as strong as those of any family. I myself happily count bartenders across the planet as my tribe. We may only see each other once a year, sometimes less, but we pick up right where we left off. When we do, the understanding we share is a very strong form of love.

There is beautiful illustration of this happening right now. It is a movement focused on supporting a barman in Seattle named Murray Stenson. Many, myself included, name Murray as the best bartender in the country. I could go on and on about Murray’s influence, or his importance in the revival of drinks as a culinary endeavor, but you can get all that from a simple web search. And frankly, it isn’t what’s important. What is important is that Murray is one of us. He is one of us, and he is very sick and in need of help.

His situation came out via his employer sending a message to a select few barmen across the country telling us that Murray is in need of serious surgery and is uninsured. These few organized and spread the word; in just three weeks, over $100,000 was raised — all through tip jars and some very generous bar owners dedicating portions of sales. It’s not over either; larger fundraising events are planned in at least eight cities.

I don’t pretend to know if this is enough for Murray’s treatment and I am not sure if that number is even any of my business. I can say though that I am not really surprised at scope of the support effort. This kind of focus, this sense of belonging to something bigger with history, lineage and purpose is exactly what holds the bar community together.

I like to say that we were a bunch of orphans running around making lives as best as we could, until about 7 years ago when we starting meeting each other. All of sudden we found brothers and sisters from all over the world, who understood exactly where we were coming from and what we want to do with our lives. This discovery is so thrilling that few of us are really ever able to let it go. So, the chance to feel it again, to be a part of a big effort like the one for Murray is an easy sell.

So, I will be selfish and thank Mr. Stenson for, once again, making me feel like I am part of something big and relevant. I will be even more selfish and encourage any reading this to help out as well.

If you have ever had a positive experience in a bar, if you have ever tasted a cocktail that somehow seemed to be more than the sum of its parts, or if you have ever had a host of any kind make you feel special for even just a moment, I ask you to help the barman who might have taught the person who taught the person who taught the person who did that for you.

If you choose to kick in, I hope you can feel a small part of the bond we bartenders enjoy, because you will have definitely made yourself a part of it: facebook.com/MurrayAid